LOCKPORT — From Canastota to Hollywood to the Philippines to Lockport, N.Y., Angelo Dundee’s Hall of Fame career generated a lot of excitement. Arguably boxing’s most famous trainer, Dundee died away from the limelight at his apartment in Tampa on Wednesday at the age of 90.

Dundee first made a name for himself as a motivator of boxing champions. Dundee worked the corner for some of Muhammad Ali’s greatest fights, like the “Rumble in the Jungle” versus George Forman in Zaire and the “Thrilla in Manila” in the Philippines versus Joe Frazier.

Dundee trained 15 world champions including Hall-of-Famers Sugar Ray Leonard, Forman, Sugar Ramos, Jose Napoles, Luis Rodriguez, Willie Pastrano and Canastota’s Carmen Basilio.

In addition, Dundee worked over the years with two of Lockport’s most famous heavyweights, Tommy Hicks and Tony Ventura.

“He was a great guy. He knew boxing and he was a gentleman. He didn’t hurt anybody,” said Ventura on Thursday from his hospital bed at Lockport Memorial Hospital, where he’s recovering from shoulder surgery.

“I met Angelo when I first went to the Fifth street gym. He brought me down there. He took a liking to me and gave me some hints and he helped me out. He’ll be missed.”

International Boxing Hall of Fame Executive Director Ed Brophy said Dundee worked the corner of some of the greatest fights in the history of the sport.

“We’re very fortunate that the ring that is on display here that was donated from Madison Square Garden, Angelo himself worked the corner,” Brophy said.

“When he would return each year, he would stand by the ring, step up in the ring and share some of the great moments that boxing had in the center of that ring. A piece of Angelo (is) always here because of that.”

Hicks, who once fought for the light heavyweight championship of the world, said Dundee’s priority was always his fighters.

“He was an outstanding person, low key, but very professional as far as getting the best out of you,” said Hicks, who retired as the principal of Newfane Elementary School.

“Angelo knew his stuff inside and out as far as boxing, but more than that, he was a very, very good person who always had the welfare of the fighter in mind first. He took care of you. He was a very nice, positive person. A top-shelfer and a class act.”

Basilio and Dundee won their first world championship as a team.

“He was in his corner when (Basilio) won the championship fight in 1955,” Brophy said. “Angelo always credited his long career of champions back to Carmen Basilio. It was Carmen’s night of winning the welterweight championship that was the first for Angelo Dundee to be with a champion he worked with.”

Tony Graziano, owner of Graziano’s restaurant in Canastota, remembered meeting Dundee early in his career.

“I met Angelo in 1950 in West Palm Beach,” Graziano said. “He frequently hung around the gym with us. We broke bread together all the time, did business together through the years. He was a great guy. The boxing world is going to miss him.”

Later in life, Dundee used his boxing insight to help Hollywood bring the feature films “Ali” and “Cinderella Man” to life. After training Crowe for his lead role as a boxer in “Cinderella Man,” Dundee played the part of a cornerman in the movie. The two became friends and Dundee convinced Crowe to visit the IBHOF for induction weekend in 2005.

“He made a surprise visit,” Brophy said of Crowe. “It was because of Angelo’s relationship with Russell Crowe and his love of the sport that brought him to Canastota.”

Dundee was inducted into the IBHOF in 1992 and had been a frequent visitor to the museum for subsequent induction weekends.

“Angelo became a very good friend of the Village of Canastota as he would return each year for the Hall of Fame weekend,” Brophy said. “He was just a treat to be around, telling great stories, signing autographs and taking pictures with fans. He was always promoting the sport of boxing.”

Dundee, born Angelo Mirena on Aug. 30, 1921, was active even late in his life. In one of his final public appearances, Dundee helped Ali celebrate his 70th birthday.

“All of us in the boxing community can pay respect to Angelo through celebrating the wonderful life he had right up to he was 90 years old,” Brophy said.

“He’s going to be missed. He’ll be remembered for many generations.”